Reclaiming the Facts – Making Nigeria Great Again (MANGA)


By Dr Adetunji Adepoju,(DProf- FCIHRM).



I have taken occasion to respond point by point to the midterm assessment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Presidency by Afenifere with a key focus on what the President has done, what he has not done, what he is doing and what he can do using a template which I call ,Make Nigeria Great Again,MANGA! as follows:


1. DOMESTIC PRODUCTION AND GDP DECLINE


Afenifere’s Claim: 

Nigeria’s GDP dropped from $363.8 billion to $188.27 billion.


Counterpoint:

The fall in GDP (in dollar terms) is largely due to Naira depreciation—not a collapse in production alone. Floating the Naira was a long-delayed reform demanded by global investors to unify Nigeria’s FX market.


GDP in Naira terms has risen, reflecting real growth in certain sectors like tech, agriculture, and telecommunications. 

Tinubu inherited a fragile economy plagued by unsustainable subsidies and fiscal indiscipline.


What Tinubu Is Doing:

Removing fuel and forex subsidies to free up funds for real sector investment.


Establishing the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) to support MSMEs and attract FDI.


Launching Renewed Hope Infrastructure and Industrialization Fund for energy and transportation support.


Recommendation (MANGA Strategy):

Stabilize FX through increased oil exports and remittances.


Expand local manufacturing using industrial clusters and tax incentives.


2. PUBLIC DEBT

Afenifere’s Claim: Public debt increased from N87.9 trillion to N187 trillion.


Counterpoint:

Debt in Naira has increased, but debt-to-GDP ratio remains sustainable by global standards.


Much of the debt increase is due to FX revaluation—not new borrowing alone.


Tinubu is managing inherited obligations and plugging leakages via TSA enforcement and IPPIS extension.


What Tinubu Is Doing:

Prioritizing concessional loans over commercial ones.


Restructuring debt to extend repayment periods.


Increasing non-oil revenues via Customs reforms and tax digitization.


*"Recommendation (MANGA Strategy):"*

Establish an Independent Debt Sustainability Council.


Link new borrowing to productivity and project delivery metrics.


3. POVERTY AND SHRINKING PROSPERITY

Afenifere’s Claim: Poverty rate is now over 54%, with 130 million poor Nigerians.


Counterpoint:

Rising poverty is a multi-decade issue, aggravated by COVID-19, global inflation, and oil theft.


Tinubu’s reforms are painful but necessary to reset the economy. Sacrifices today will yield dividends tomorrow.


What Tinubu Is Doing:

Launching National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP) revival.


Creating Conditional Cash Transfers (CCT) for 15 million households.


Expanding job opportunities through 3 Million Technical Talent Programme and Renewed Hope Jobs Initiative.


Recommendation (MANGA Strategy):

Scale up digital palliatives via verified NIN-linked disbursements.


Partner with churches, mosques, and NGOs to deliver grassroots social safety nets.


4. HOUSING CRISIS

Afenifere’s Claim: Tinubu plans only 20,000 houses for over 30 million people.


Counterpoint:

Tinubu is not solving all of Nigeria’s problems in two years. Housing delivery is planned in phases.


He launched the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates initiative with private partnerships.


What Tinubu Is Doing:

Prioritizing urban and rural housing delivery via Family Homes Fund and FMBN.


Promoting modular home technology and low-cost mortgage systems.


Recommendation (MANGA Strategy):

Decentralize land use powers to fast-track approvals.


Introduce rent-to-own models for working-class citizens.


5. PREBENDALISM AND CONNECTED GOVERNANCE

Afenifere’s Claim: Only a few benefitted from wage increases and palliatives.


Counterpoint:

The civil service raise is a start. Broader reforms are underway under the Tripartite Labour Committee.


Most palliative failures are due to state-level inefficiencies, not federal reluctance.


What Tinubu Is Doing:

Launching e-wallets for farmers and traders.


Working with World Bank for data-driven social registers.


Recommendation (MANGA Strategy):


Introduce performance audits of palliative delivery across all states.


Make social register audit results public.


6. COST OF GOVERNANCE

Afenifere’s Claim: Tinubu failed to implement Oronsaye Report; government remains wasteful.


Counterpoint:

Oronsaye implementation is in progress. Tinubu approved the full implementation in February 2024, starting with merging 29 agencies.


Cuts are being resisted by vested interests. Change takes time.


What Tinubu Is Doing:

Implementing Performance Scorecard System for MDAs.


Reducing duplications in agencies like FCCPC, ICPC, and SON.


Recommendation (MANGA Strategy):

Fast-track merger of duplicated agencies.


Make Performance Contracts a condition for agency funding.


7. INSECURITY

Afenifere’s Claim: Over 10,000 deaths and refusal to allow state police.


Counterpoint:


Tinubu has not refused state police. Discussions with Governors’ Forum and Constitutional Review Committee are ongoing.


Security remains a legacy crisis — military underfunded for decades.


What Tinubu Is Doing:

Deployed Special Intervention Brigades in North West and Middle Belt.


Introduced Forest Guards and Agro Rangers to protect farmlands.


Recommendation (MANGA Strategy):

Constitutionally define a Multi-tiered Security Architecture.


Fund intelligence and surveillance tech.


8. DESTRUCTURING AND CENTRALIZATION

Afenifere’s Claim: Tinubu is centralizing power and attacking federalism.


Counterpoint:

Devolution is a process, not an event. Tinubu supports constitutional amendments for LG autonomy and judicial independence.


Critics confuse national coordination with autocracy.


What Tinubu Is Doing:

Working with Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to improve fiscal federalism.


Recommendation (MANGA Strategy):

Restructure fiscal allocation to prioritize IGR-based incentives.


Strengthen state autonomy via administrative decentralization.


9. DICTATORIAL TENDENCIES

Afenifere’s Claim: Clampdown on protests, biased INEC appointments.


Counterpoint:

Protests are regulated for safety, not suppressed. Labour Union protests occurred freely without military crackdown.


INEC remains independent; election outcomes in multiple states went against the ruling party.


What Tinubu Is Doing:


Upholding court rulings, including those that reverse executive interests.


Opening democratic space via Digital Civic Engagement tools.


Recommendation (MANGA Strategy):

Build citizen feedback platforms.


Appoint opposition figures to strategic reform committees.


SUMMARY RESPONSE


While the Afenifere Report reflects public frustrations, it is riddled with selective interpretation, outdated assumptions, and politicized narratives. 


Tinubu inherited a distressed state, but has taken bold decisions many past administrations avoided. Painful reforms today are necessary for long-term national rebirth.


MANGA ACTION PLAN – MAKE NIGERIA GREAT AGAIN


1. M - Modernize Institutions: Full Oronsaye implementation, digital government, and performance-based leadership.


2. A - Activate Productivity: Support MSMEs, unlock regional trade, and enable youth tech entrepreneurship.


3. N - National Unity and Security: Constitutional security restructuring, community policing, and equity in federal appointments.


4. G - Govern with Integrity: Transparent budgets, anti-corruption reforms, lifestyle audits for public servants.


5. A - Accelerate Inclusive Growth: Housing, healthcare, jobs and education for all, using public-private models. 


Dr Adetunji Adepoju is the Executive Director of Strategic Leaders and Managers Association of Nigeria and Convener of Make Nigeria Great Again,MANGA.